Speeding contributes to fatal trucking accidents

Georgia motorists may be interested to learn that federal regulations requiring truck drivers to take a break could be contributing to an increase in fatal crashes. The regulations require a break after being behind the wheel for eight hours.

In 2017 alone, it was reported that 37,133 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents. While this in itself was 2 percent decline from the number of people killed in auto accidents in 2016, the number of large truck fatalities actually rose by 9 percent. The total number of people who died in these types of accidents was 4,761, an increase of 392 deaths from 2016. Of these deaths, approximately 1,300 were truckers. The remaining 72 percent of the deaths were occupants of other vehicles that were involved in the accident.

According to the president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, truckers feel that they have to increase their speed in order to get to their destinations on time due to the federal rules .However, the chief counsel for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration stated that he does not believe that the regulations are linked to truck drivers speeding in order to beet the clock. Regardless, speeding is still considered to be the number one cause of fatal truck accidents.

When trucks get into accidents, the occupants of other vehicles are likely to suffer serious injuries. People who have been harmed in a big rig crash might want to meet with an attorney to see what recourse they might have. If it can be determined that the accident was due to the negligence of the truck driver or company, it might be advisable to file a lawsuit seeking appropriate compensation.